Crewkerne T.C. News

The Newsletter of Crewkerne Town Council Issue 34 July 2012

Her Majesty the Queen comes to Crewkerne

Souvenir Jubilee Edition

After several months of hard work by a number of people the day was finally here; the first visit to Crewkerne by a reigning monarch since the late 17th Century. The 2nd May 2012 was the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. Coming into the town centre early in the morning and seeing all the barriers in place and people already waiting for the visit was a wonderful sight. It was incredibly emotional watching as the royal convoy drove down East Street and the National Anthem started to play, and seeing the Royal Standard proudly flying on the Town Hall. The noise and cheering from everyone around was deafening and peaked when the royal car opened and the Queen emerged. The huge crowds throughout the town made the day incredibly special and it was such a huge honour for Crewkerne to be visited by Her Majesty during the Diamond Jubilee tour, and for me to welcome Her Majesty to our friendly and welcoming town. I would like to thank all the Town Council staff, the Lord Lieutenant’s office and everyone else involved for all their hard work prior to and during the day for making it unforgettable and for everyone for coming out and showing how Crewkerne can celebrate a special event. Cllr. Neil Sturtivant, former Mayor

Thank you to the following people for allowing us to use their photographs in this newsletter: Richard Lappas, Dave Charnick, Hilary Leamon, Chris Gough, Tony English and Jonathan Calderbank.

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 2 July 2012

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 3 July 2012

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 4 July 2012

Office Opening Hours Please note that the Town Council office is open to the public from 9am to 1pm each day. Should you wish to speak to a member of staff or visit outside of these times please leave a message on the answerphone to make an appointment or e-mail towncouncil@crewkerne-tc.gov.uk

The South Somerset District Council Community Office and Local Information Centre remain open each afternoon other than Thursday and may be able to answer your questions or alternatively take a message to pass on to the Town Council.

Temporary Car ParkAt the last Policy and Resourses Committee meeting Councillors considered the results of its consultation through the TC newsletter on the future of the temporary car park on Henhayes.

A decision has to be taken as the two year extension of the temporary permission will run out at the beginning of February 2013 and it has been made clear by the Area West Committee of SSDC that it would not accept another temporary application.

The District Council car parking strategy document clearly indicates that there is a significant shortfall in parking spaces for Crewkerne going forward and the Town and District Councils continue to try and find more land for car parking space within the town as an alternative to Henhayes but at this time there are no plans on the table that would fill the void.

Views had been submitted by members of the public both for and against the continuation of the car park on this part of Henhayes, with the balance being in favour.

The Council, in considering this matter, took account of the significant upturn in visitor numbers to the town mainly through the success of the enhanced retail developments resulting in increased demand for parking which at times had led to there being no available spaces in the Henhayes car parks against the loss of the green space.

The decision of the meeting was to recommend moving forward on submitting an application for permanent status for the car park due to the significant negative effect on parking in the town centre if the extra parking was removed without further spaces being established elsewhere and the resulting effect on town centre viability. It was pointed out during the debate that when the George Reynolds Centre is complete and the old buildings demolished the amount of available green space will increase significantly and the Committee also agreed to look into a request from the Rugby Club to reduce the size of the car park and return a strip of land running along its length to the rugby pitch.

The new design will be brought back to Council as soon as possible at which time a final decision will be taken on the application to SSDC for permanent car park status.

On Street Parking: Message from Somerset County Council

Civil Parking Enforcement means transferring the responsibility of most on-street parking regulations from the Police to the Local Authority, in this case Somerset County Council.

This new arrangement was introduced to Somerset on 11th June and now the County Council and its enforcement provider NSL will issue penalty charge notices for motorists who break the parking rules.

There are no plans to introduce parking meters or to charge for on-street parking in Crewkerne. Nor are there plans to change or introduce more parking regulations such as yellow lines, limited waiting or resident schemes without full consultation.

Civil Enforcement Officers will use the latest technology to record contraventions and, wherever possible, penalty notices will be processed automatically. Officers will patrol on foot, by bicycle, scooter or car as appropriate to the location and will wear a Somerset County Council branded uniform.

The parking penalty charge levels will be £70 for a higher-level contravention (eg parking on a double yellow line) and £50 for a lower-level contravention (eg parking too long in a limited waiting bay). These charges are subject to 50% reduction if paid within 14 days.

For further information ring 0845 337 1000 or go to www.somerset.gov.uk and search for ‘parking services’.

South Somerset District Council will continue to enforce car parks in Crewkerne.

Councillor Address Tel. No. Sylvia Allman 4 Ashland Court, Crewkerne TA18 7AP 72875 Mike Best (Vice Chair, Planning & Highways) 186 Park View, Crewkerne TA18 8JH 74245 Ron Bond 5 Whitehall Court, Crewkerne TA18 7NW 75284 Teresa Bond 5 Whitehall Court, Crewkerne TA18 7NW 75284 Jo Dawson (Chair, Planning & Highways) 52 Hermitage Street, Crewkerne TA18 8ET 76797 Alys Hennessy 14 Station Road, Crewkerne TA18 8AJ 76592 Rusty Jackson (Chair, George Reynolds Centre Ctee) 2 Thomson Drive, Crewkerne TA18 8AQ 75400 Robin Pailthorpe (Mayor) 51 West Street, Crewkerne TA18 8AZ 07835 711073 Angie Singleton (VC P&R and VC GRC Ctee) Kincora, Church Street, Crewkerne TA18 7HR 74846 Andrea Stuart (Vice Chair, Amenities) Summerhill, 5 Mount Pleasant, Crewkerne TA18 7AH 07776 414267 Neil Sturtivant (Chair, Policy & Resources) 9 Birch Way, Crewkerne TA18 7DT 78602 Sue White (Deputy Mayor & Chair, Amenities) 126 Park View, Crewkerne TA18 8JJ 76026

Crewkerne Town Website Don’t forget to visit the Town Website for up-to-date information on everything happening in Crewkerne. www.CrewkerneTown.org

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 5 July 2012

New line up at Town Council At the Annual Meeting of the Town Council, held on 28th May, Cllr. Robin Pailthorpe was elected as Mayor with Cllr. Sue White to serve as his Deputy. Cllr. Mrs White is also the Chair of the Amenities Committee and Cllr. Andrea Stuart the Vice-Chair. Chair of Planning & Highways is Cllr. Jo Dawson with Cllr. Mike Best as the Vice-Chair. Cllr. Rusty Jackson will chair the George Reynolds Centre Project Committee and Cllr. Angie Singleton is Vice-Chair. The Policy & Resources Committee will be chaired by Cllr. Neil Sturtivant and Vice-Chair is Cllr. Angie Singleton.

Council hands out Grants for 2012/13 The first duty of the new Mayor, Cllr. Robin Pailthorpe, was to hand out grant cheques to local community groups and an honorarium to David Craner, Crewkerne’s Town Crier.

Cheques totalling £7,924 were given as follows:

Henhayes Centre £1,500 Crewkerne Heritage Centre £1,500 West One Community Centre £1,250¹ ABCD £ 580 Local Information Centre £ 144 CUDOS £ 500 South Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau £2,000² Town Crier Honorarium £ 300 Crewkerne Twinning Association £ 150 £7,924

¹ An additional grant has also been agreed to cover rent and will be given pro rata once a moving date to the new George Reynolds Centre has been agreed. ² CAB is also provided with free use of an interview room at the Town Hall from 10am to 1pm every Thursday for outreach work.

Worried about speeding cars?Many residents express their concerns about speeding cars and ask what can be done about it. The answer is form a Speedwatch Group. This is exactly what has happened in both East Chinnock and Misterton, where the knowledge that you might ‘get caught’ acts as an excellent deterrent to drivers who are never quite sure when a Speedwatch team will be working.

You will work as part of a team and will receive advice from a Community Speedwatch Co-ordinator and training and support from the Police.

Several people have already come forward following a recruitment event but the more people that volunteer to join the group the less time each individual will have to spend at the roadside.

If this is something that interests you and you would like to find out more or put your name forward please contact Annette Roffey on 01460 74001 or e-mail Annette.roffey@crewkerne-tc.gov.uk

Cold CallingIn the last edition of the newsletter we outlined plans to make Crewkerne a ‘No Cold Calling’ zone. There were no objections to the proposal so now plans are underway to obtain the necessary signs plus permission from Somerset County Council Highways to erect them at each entrance to the town. Once this has been done a poster will be printed in the next edition of the newsletter which residents can place in their windows to advise would-be cold callers that the Police will be called.

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 6 July 2012

Jubilee Celebrations in Crewkerne

The Jubilee weekend began in Crewkerne with a Mini Olympics competition on Friday with Year 8 pupils from Maiden Beech Academy and Swanmead School organised by School Games Co-ordinator Bob Brunt. Following an Opening Ceremony with 12 different countries represented by teams from both schools all pupils took part in a Fun Run. They then had the opportunity to enjoy taster sessions of various sports and activities before some fun team races to end the day. It was a close competition but the winning countries were Tonga and Saudi Arabia. Cllr. Roger Swann, Mayor of Ilminster, and I had a wonderful day watching the children socialising and competing with good spirit.

Saturday brought the Jubilee Fete with stalls from many local groups and organisations bringing colour and festivities to a somewhat grey day. There were displays of dancing, children’s races, Tai Chi and a Junior Town Crier competition where I had the pleasure and honour of being a judge. The afternoon ended just as the rain came!

Later that evening the Prom in the Park started with dubious weather but great heart. Several hundred of us set up camp with picnic and brolly to enjoy a fabulous evening of entertainment from CUDOS, Phoenix Brass, Wadham School Steel Band, One Thing and Feedback. All were wonderful, playing in rain or calm, making us feel part of such a special event. Then as the band played Land of Hope and Glory the fireworks began bringing everyone to their feet. A very proud moment for me and many others.

On Sunday the Crewkerne Churches Together held a well attended Jubilee Songs of Praise and an opportunity to watch the River Pageant. On Monday more than 20 gardens in Crewkerne opened to the public as part of the Open Gardens Event ranging from grand formal gardens to a cottage courtyard and raised £1,563 for the Friends of Crewkerne Parish Church towards the next phase of repairs to the Church roof. It was absolutely charming. I had the opportunity to visit eleven and thought how lucky I am to live in a town such as this. The weekend celebrations ended with Bertie’s Big Band playing in the Victoria Hall in the evening.

I would personally like to thank the Town Council staff and everyone else who worked so hard in and around the town for making the Jubilee weekend such a success and joy for all those who attended the events.

Cllr. Robin Pailthorpe, Mayor CUDOS perform during the evening concert

Members of Breeze Dance Company

Face painting at the fete!

King Arthur and the Town Crier accompany the Mayor and Mayoress

Competing in the Mini Olympics on Henhayes

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 7 July 2012

Town Crier Competition

Best Crier Ken Knowles of Lichfield presented with the Bellman Trophy by the Mayor

Best Dressed Crier Roy Palmer of Mablethorpe is presented with the Rotary Shield by President-Elect Derek Phoenix

Best Dressed Escort Caroline Cunliff of Dawlish presented with the Stokes Partners Trophy.

Ready to shout! Town Criers gather in Falkland Square with Crewkerne Town Crier David Craner and his wife Daisy.

The Town Crier Competition took place on Saturday, 9th June and was organised by the Town Council in association with Crewkerne’s Town Crier David Craner.

Thirteen Criers and their Escorts displayed their colourful and unique costumes in Falkland Square to say nothing of the voices they showed off! Criers came from as far as Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire to compete for the Bellman Trophy. It was a truly magnificent spectacle. After two cries, one in the morning and a second in the afternoon, a good crowd saw the Town Crier from Lichfield declared the winner with Phil Seddon from Warminster as the Runner Up. As usual David Craner showed how it was done but he isn’t allowed to win! Well done all and I hope Crewkerne will host another competition in two years time.

David Craner retains his title

David recently retained his Somerset County Town Crying Competition title and in another competition he won the trophy for Best Dressed Crier. David is a wonderful ambassador for Crewkerne and is to be congratulated upon his success.

Speak to your Councillor

Forthcoming Town Council Surgery dates in the Community Office at the Town Hall:

Saturday 10.30 am to 12 noon

21st July 2012 15th September 2012

20th October 2012

Opportunity for informal conversations with Town Councillors.

If you have any comments or concerns about issues which affect Crewkerne please contact: Crewkerne Town Council, Town Hall, Market Square, Crewkerne TA18 7LN e-mail: towncouncil@crewkerne-tc.gov.uk Tel: 01460 74001 website: www.CrewkerneTown.org/towncouncil Fax: 01460 78790

Town Clerk: Mrs Jeanne Warner Property & Projects Officer: Mr Jed Dunn Administrative Officer: Mrs Annette Roffey Grounds & Amenities Worker: Mr Jason Fontana Finance Officer: Mrs Angie Hooper Cemetery Superintendent: Mr Nigel Peters Secretary: Mrs Jane Lanning Grounds & Amenities Apprentice: Mr Lewis Warren

Crewkerne T.C. News Page 8 July 2012